I played there for six weeks as a junior over the summer. It is an excellent camp with many top players and college players. Nick is an excellent coach and so are all of his assistants. The only problem I had was that there is no boarding, so I had to stay in a hotel. The camp is all business, meaning very serious, but can transform your game.

Great coach with older kids , well run Academy. But I dont think Nick has the patience with younger kids that Rick Macci has - I would recommend his Academy for 12 years upward, Rick's for kids younger than that.

Great coach with older kids , well run Academy. But I dont think Nick has the patience with younger kids that Rick Macci has - I would recommend his Academy for 12 years upward, Rick's for kids younger than that.

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You are spot on. Rick is great with the very young ones. Nick can get a little short with them! Both know the game inside and out.

I'd like to know what Macci charges per hour but, I honestly have no idea. I've heard some absolutely insane fees. Anyone know?

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chalk....last time I heard Rick was up to $300/hour! His academy is less expensive on a per hour basis but you get other instructors and the occasional Macci attention. I notice kids like Sonya Kenin leave Macci after a year or so....the costs must just eat up the parents.

But Macci also gives away a ton on his videos through the USTA and on Tennis Resource. A clever parent can provide almost Macci like lessons by studying all his videos.

chalk....last time I heard Rick was up to $300/hour! His academy is less expensive on a per hour basis but you get other instructors and the occasional Macci attention. I notice kids like Sonya Kenin leave Macci after a year or so....the costs must just eat up the parents.

But Macci also gives away a ton on his videos through the USTA and on Tennis Resource. A clever parent can provide almost Macci like lessons by studying all his videos.

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For younger kids I would still go with Rick's Academy ( the other coaches are fine ), they will have more fun which is important for them and our experience of Saviano is that Nick does not get too involved with the younger ones leaving them to his other coaches. I suggest half hour lessons with Rick is fine for younger kids as they are intense and as I said in another thread he also involves his kids as " the other player " when he is doing 1 :1 including strategy and points play.
But I am not doing down Nick's Academy,it is a great place for older kids and Nick is a top coach for them. Isn't Nick around $200 ? And as you say his Academy costs more.

If you really want the best coaching in the area contact Diego at Xtreme Tennis Academy. He is in Hollywood, Florida.

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1. The website has been disabled.

2. Macci has worked with Roddick, Pierce, Capriati, and the Williams sisters as kids. Saviano has a nice body of work, including Sloane Stephens. Nick B. has worked with just a few folks who have done okay!

Perhaps you could list the players Diego has trained that would make him the "best" coach in Florida?

I know who all those coaches are and have witnessed each one coach and/or sit on their ass while someone else does the work/coaching for them, so don't need a lecture from you of their history, and includes the Evert academy (both of them). I actually live at the Lauderdale Tennis Club where The Harold Solomon Academy is housed. You know who Solomon is right??? You know, a much better player, with just as much, if not bigger resume in coaching than everyone you mentioned.

I'll take Solomon over any of the guys you noted, and take Diego over Solomon. Period.

It's my opinion based on watching each one of the coaches you mentioned having someone else do the coaching for them, while Diego doesn't. Neither does Solomon.

edit: one more thing>>>> Nick B. hasn't *PRODUCED* one damn player in his entire career...... Someone else has, and he has been given the credit by people like you, who have no idea what you are talking about.

You are completely wrong. Rick Macci coaches all his top kids himself. There may be an issue with the cost but not with his coaching expertise or commitment.

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Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

2. Macci has worked with Roddick, Pierce, Capriati, and the Williams sisters as kids. Saviano has a nice body of work, including Sloane Stephens. Nick B. has worked with just a few folks who have done okay!

Perhaps you could list the players Diego has trained that would make him the "best" coach in Florida?

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Looks like the domain name expired - says it expired May 4, 2010 (thought they gave you 30 days...? )

He's 14, boy. He's highly ranked in his section, so so at the national level.

Has a lot of power, so resorts to trying to pound people off the court all the time. So clay court tennis I think would give him some needed frustrations. In addition, he's had some shin splint issues so I figure for extensive training in the summer clay would be better.

Of course, still want a quality academy...else I'll just stay local.

Central FL is preferred, but at this point I'm not too choosy. I'm willing to go down to S. FL. Austin is another choice that would work for me. (my company have offices in Austin & FL, if you are wondering why...). I can afford a decent academy...but I can't afford $300/hr lesssons! So as long as cost is in range with Saddlebrook, that should be fine. I did call Saddlebrook (my first choice) but they say juniors are almost completely on hard courts.

I'll do my own research and calling around. But want to get people's experience on this board as added reference. Thanks in advance.

Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

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Total nonsense. I have watched Macci and Saviano and Nick B. work. I have seen them all impart boat loads of knowledge to the kids.

Of course kids are not made by one guy. But a Macci provided the fundamentals to many future greats. Name the ones who credit Diego Dominguez for starting them on the right road? List the pros and top D-1 players that credit Diego??

Anyone can say a coach is great....show us his results so we can judge for ourselves. You know the guy so you think he is the cats meow.....name his success stories.

Success leads to word of mouth and tons of students....old Diego can't even keep his website active!

Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

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That is different from what you said before. Rick does not leave the coaching to his assistants . I agree he does not work out on a group basis with all the kids, but he works one on one with any of his kids whose families can afford it ! Whether it's better to do half hour or one hour lessons one on one or spend time working in a group as you say Solomon or Diego do is a matter of opinion. My own is that younger kids need more one on one time working on technique and that is what he gives them. But he is out there on court every day and the fact that he is booked solid says it all. A figurehead like Nick B he is certainly not but then he is still a lot younger than Nick !

Total nonsense. I have watched Macci and Saviano and Nick B. work. I have seen them all impart boat loads of knowledge to the kids.

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Yeah. OK. :roll:

I've seen Mary do the same. You know who she is?? A regular run of the mill teaching pro. The same type of coach that can be found in any tennis park in the world.

You have your opinion, I have mine, and based on THE FACT that Macci, Saviano, or Bolleteri (who shouldn't even be in the discussion), don't stay on the court all day with their kids hitting with them and teaching each one personally for 8 hours a day, I'll take Diego or Solomon. And between those two, I'll take diego.

But hey, if you want to send your kid to macci, sav, or nick and pay a boatload of money to have someone other than those guys teach your kid, then be my guest.

Rick does not leave the coaching to his assistants . I agree he does not work out on a group basis with all the kids, but he works one on one with any of his kids whose families can afford it ! Whether it's better to do half hour or one hour lessons one on one or spend time working in a group as you say Solomon or Diego do is a matter of opinion.

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I guess you do have reading comprehension problems. Go back and read my posts. I made it clear Diego and Solomon provide coaching with each and every kid in their academies individually, as opposed to the others who leave the teaching to someone else. They (Diego/Solomon) are also hitting/drilling with every kid while providing instruction.

I guess you do have reading comprehension problems. Go back and read my posts. I made it clear Diego and Solomon provide coaching with each and every kid in their academies individually, as opposed to the others who leave the teaching to someone else. They (Diego/Solomon) are also hitting/drilling with every kid while providing instruction.

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You are now just repeating the incorrect statement you made before. Rick Macci does not leave the individual coaching to others. He is available to anyone who wants him. I don't know the size of the 2 Academies you mention but let's suppose there are 40 kids of different ages and ability levels and the Academies run for 6 hours daily. How much 1 on 1 time with Solomon .can the kids get every day ? The format you are suggesting would work for a small group of 10 players but not for much more than that. If that is what they have then great , I am sure the kids get the individual attention they need.
As I have said several times Macci specialises in giving very young kids their foundations and he does that by working with them 1 on 1. He does not drill in groups - the kids do that in his Academy with his assistants. But nearly all the families who send their kids to his Academy do so by booking Rick for x number of individual hours per week - that is how he runs his programs and it works in his particular Academy.
Whether or not Solomon and Diego run their Academies better I have no idea since I haven't seen them. Again I reiterate that for the younger kids the Macci format works well and those are the ones he focuses on most. The academies I have seen - Evert, Saviano and Bolliterri may work fine for older kids ( Saviano has a very good program ) but for the younger ones Macci in my opinion offers more.
So no, I don't think I am having comprehension issues, I just don't agree with you. Or you with me which is fine too.

As I have said several times Macci specialises in giving very young kids their foundations and he does that by working with them 1 on 1. He does not drill in groups - the kids do that in his Academy with his assistants.

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Thanks for confirming what I have already said.

Like I said, Solomon and DiegoDO NOT LEAVE LEAVE THIS TO THEIR ASSISTANTS. THEY DO IT THEMSELVES.

In addition, also provide one one one throughout the course of an entire 8+ hour day to EVERY student, not just select ones who pay a little more.

Hmmmm, see your own post below, which is what I've been saying repeatedly:

Thanks for confirming what I have already said.

Like I said, Solomon and DiegoDO NOT LEAVE LEAVE THIS TO THEIR ASSISTANTS. THEY DO IT THEMSELVES.

In addition, also provide one one one throughout the course of an entire 8+ hour day to EVERY student, not just select ones who pay a little more.

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No - the individual lessons are given by RM. The group drilling and fitness is done by his assistants though he sets the drills . He is doing individual lessons all day every day so he cannot do both at the same time. He does pull the other kids from the Academy to play points and rally with the kids doing lessons. I quite agree with you about the cost but that is how it is. Maybe the USTA should do something with all the millions they make from the Open to give coaching grants to kids who want to play with the top coaches ( not necessarily the USTA ones ) but cannot afford it.
You did not answer my question about how many students Solomon and Diego have on an average day.

Does Solomon have young kids 6-9 years in his Academy, does he do private lessons and what do they cost ? - I see from their website that they do full time and after school programs so do you mean 12-15 kids in the full time program or does that include the after school kids who I guess are the younger ones ? And do the numbers not increase in the summer break ?
One other thing . Solomon was very much a baseline player - does he encourage those kids who want to get forward and volley ?

- I see from their website that they do full time and after school programs so do you mean 12-15 kids in the full time program or does that include the after school kids who I guess are the younger ones ? And do the numbers not increase in the summer break ?

Thanks, the video was interesting - don't see Dementieva at the net too often. Hope Harold wasn't responsible for her serve ! If she had a better one she could have won so many more titles.

But your answers, looking at the websites of this Academy and visits to some of the otheres just reiterate what I have been stressing.. I don't know whether Solomon's Academy is better than Saviano for instance but for the youngest kids Rick Macci's Academy is the best and that is why there is such a high percentage of them there. . As they get older maybe they move on maybe they stay but since I have kids at the younger end that is my concern right now. I am yet to see anyone point out a coach that teaches or relates to them better or an Academy where they will find other young kids of similar ability levels.

Central FL is preferred, but at this point I'm not too choosy. I'm willing to go down to S. FL. Austin is another choice that would work for me. experience on this board as added reference. Thanks in advance.

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For Central FL, I second ChalkFlewUp - Lorenzo Beltrame and Richard Schmidt are the best options there. Both have access to clay courts, but dont know how much they teach juniors on them.

In Austin - there is a place called Horseshoe Bay Resort about 45 minutes to an hour outside of the city. They have red clay as well as grass. I dont have any first hand knowledge of the place but I have heard that they are actively promoting training juniors on clay. There is also a Marriott on site. My friends mom has a vacation home there. It is a very pretty area. Lakecliff is another option.

If you're working what you will run into with some programs is that they dont have a boarding option. Which means you will have to make some kind of arrangements and/or make sure to pick up your child every day. It can be a bit dicey with work and rain. That is where places like IMG and Newcombes come in to the picture. I know IMG in Bradenton is doing a lot more on clay with the kids. You could call them and ask what they can do. The advantage there is you drive kid to Bradenton and do not have to worry about picking him up every day. He will be safe and have a great time. It is also very structured.

Thanks, the video was interesting - don't see Dementieva at the net too often. Hope Harold wasn't responsible for her serve ! If she had a better one she could have won so many more titles.

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Actually, Harold and his team are very responible for her success in 2008, when she won the gold and reached number 4 in the world. She had a very successful year, and her serve improved quite a bit. However, she is somewhat of a head case, and can't seem to get it together to win a slam.

Actually, Harold and his team are very responible for her success in 2008, when she won the gold and reached number 4 in the world. She had a very successful year, and her serve improved quite a bit. However, she is somewhat of a head case, and can't seem to get it together to win a slam.

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Ha, nice way to change the subject. The bottom line is Diego is not even in Macci's universe, let alone being the "best coach in the area" as you boasted.

Macci has been credited by the Willams sisters, Roddick, Capriati, Mary Pierce, Vince Spadea, Tommy Ho, and many, many top ranked kids such as Sonya Kenin, as having developed their fundamentals as kids. The number of D-1 kids he has worked with as kids is off the charts. He has actual pictures and videos and stories of these kids....documentation....unlike you just saying Diego has done this and that.

He also has produced many, many well done videos that I have seen other coaches and parents use with great success with kids from 4-15. His video clips are all over Tennis Resources. Anyone who watches his videos with kids and does not see the amazing communication of tennis skills is nuts.

To even use Diego's name in the same sentence as Macci's as far as being "a better coach for kids" is beyond silly. Thats like comparing Michael Jordan in his prime to some slub guard sitting on the end of the bench.

Tennis Coach Florida would you recommend taking my 8 year old daughter to Macci this summer for a week?My next door neighbor went and stayed at Maccis when we were younger for about a year when Macci was at Greenleaf he liked it.He had a video of him playing Capriati and he beat her 6-0 on the grass court they had at Greenleaf.

Tennis Coach Florida would you recommend taking my 8 year old daughter to Macci this summer for a week?My next door neighbor went and stayed at Maccis when we were younger for about a year when Macci was at Greenleaf he liked it.He had a video of him playing Capriati and he beat her 6-0 on the grass court they had at Greenleaf.

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I can answer this as a parent. Yes , 8 years old is the right age, there will be other kids of the same age. If you can stretch to it, you need to have one or 2 lessons with Rick to get the most out of it . The other coaches there are good so if she wants to go there and have fun and work out she will still have a good time.